wish it.  I look upon it as quite essential that you and Emily should learn to know each other.’  ’But we do know each other; don’t we, Emily?’ said Lily.  ‘Not quite well yet,’ said Emily.  Then Lily had laughed, and so the matter was settled.  And now, on this present occasion, Mr Dale was at Mrs Thorne’s house for the last time.  His conscience had been perplexed about Lily’s horse, and if anything was to be said it must be said now.  The subject was very disagreeable to him, and he was angry with Bernard because Bernard had declined to manage it for him after his own fashion.  But he had told himself so often that anything was better than a pecuniary obligation, that he was determined to speak his mind to Mrs Thorne, and to beg her to allow him to have his way.  So he waited till the Harold Smiths were gone, and Sir Raffle Buffle, and then, when Lily was apart with Emily—­for Bernard Dale had left them—­he found himself at last alone with Mrs Thorne.

‘I can’t be too much obliged to you,’ he said, ’for your kindness to my girl.’

‘Oh, laws, that’s nothing,’ said Mrs Thorne.  ’We look on her as one of us now.’

’I’m sure she is grateful—­very grateful; and so am I. She and Bernard have been brought up so much together that it is very desirable that she should not be unknown to Bernard’s wife.’

’Exactly—­that’s just what I mean.  Blood’s thicker than water; isn’t it?  Emily’s child, if she has one, will be Lily’s cousin.’

‘Her first-cousin once removed,’ said the squire, who was accurate in these matters.  Then he drew himself up in his seat and compressed his lips together, and prepared himself for his task.  It was very disagreeable.  Nothing, he thought, could be more disagreeable.  ’I have a little thing to speak about,’ he said at last, ’which I hope will not offend you.’

‘About Lily?’

‘Yes; about Lily.’

’I’m not very easily offended, and I don’t know how I could possibly be offended about her.’

’I’m an old-fashioned man, Mrs Thorne, and don’t know much about the ways of the world.  I have always been down in the country, and maybe I have prejudices.  You won’t refuse to humour one of them, I hope?’

‘You’re beginning to frighten me, Mr Dale; what is it?’

‘About Lily’s horse.’

‘Lily’s horse!  What about her horse?  I hope he’s not vicious?’

‘She is riding every day with your niece,’ said the squire, thinking it best to stick to his own point.

‘It will do her all the good in the world,’ said Mrs Thorne.

’Very likely.  I don’t doubt it.  I do not in the least disapprove her riding.  But—­’

‘But what, Mr Dale?’

’I should be much obliged if I might be allowed to pay the livery-stable keeper’s bill.’

‘Oh, laws a’mercy.’

’I daresay it may sound odd, but as I have a fancy about it, I’m sure you’ll gratify me.’

’Of course I will.  I’ll remember it.  I’ll make it all right with Bernard.  Bernard and I have no end of accounts—­or shall have before long—­and we’ll make an item of it.  Then you can arrange with Bernard afterwards.’